Bertram 25 a winner with Mercury Verado 350hp

Keen Top End angler Josh Ker, who heads the fishing apparel and graphic design company Bigfish Gear in Darwin, is the latest Mercury advocate singing the praises of the 350hp Mercury Verado outboard.

With a young family, Ker was said to be looking for an engine that was super reliable to repower his Bertram 25 flybridge. 

"I did a fair bit of research, talking to people, going on internet forums, and in the end the Mercury simply stacked up better especially given that it is a lot lighter than other engines," Ker said.

"As soon as the engine was fitted I took the boat out for 10 straight days to give it a good run down ahead of a bill fishing competition I’d entered.

"I was more than pleasantly surprised — astonished really. She now handles like a sports boat. It’s astonishing. At 70 km/h in a three tonne boat I can go into a full lock turn and this engine powers in and powers right out.

"It’s unbelievably quiet as well. I thought my previous engine was pretty good but this is something else. You can sit right next to it at full throttle and have a conversation.

"The other day I was coming home in a big following sea and it was great, coming off the back of one wave and driving into the next the power is always there. It puts a smile on your face."

"We came home at 4600rpm at 55 litres an hour and I was rapt. I’m burning the same fuel every hour, but I’m travelling further. I've only got good things to say," Ker enthuses.

In a little over a month, the keen angler has already racked up some 90 hours with his new Verado, which was fitted up by Boatland Winnellie. He's also scored a few Top End billfish into the bargain, proving the Verado is a fish raiser.

The 350hp Verado comes standard with electro/hydraulic power
steering, stainless steel propeller, 'fly-by-wire' digital throttle and
Shift (DTS), and lays claims to being the lightest 350hp four stroke on the market. More at
www.mercurymarine.com/en/au/.